After sharing a body with her husband

Upon closer inspection, Shang Lingjun saw that Meng Shu had covered Xie Zhaoqing with his wide robe, so she couldn't see Xie Zhaoqing's face.

Meanwhile, unnoticed by anyone, one of Meng Shu's disciples continued his ritual diligently, but hidden by his mask, no one could see his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Shang Lingjun's brow twitched; so that's how it is.

It's ventriloquism!

This scene was absolutely brilliant!

Is this Meng Shu from an opera troupe? His acting skills are superb, and his supernatural deceptions can really fool people.

Shang Lingjun had initially thought he truly possessed some kind of supernatural power, but now her hopes were dashed.

Then, a gasp rippled through the crowd.

"Sanlang bit his tongue and committed suicide!"

"Zhaoqing bit off his tongue and committed suicide!"

"He bit off his tongue and committed suicide!"

As if afraid that the onlookers wouldn't hear clearly, the people arranged by the Xie family kept repeating the same thing, making the scene even more chaotic.

"Zhaoqing! My son!"

Master Xie cried so hard that he was hoarse.

Shang Lingjun bit her lip hard and started acting out a frightened look. She covered her mouth tightly with a handkerchief and warned herself not to laugh!

You're not allowed to laugh!

The large amount of blood Xie Zhaoqing vomited was also a smokescreen by Meng Shu.

That's chicken blood.

The chicken blood smelled terrible, causing Xie Zhaoqing to gag and vomit blood even more realistically.

And so, this grand religious ceremony finally ended with Xie Zhaoqing's suicide. The scene was in complete chaos, and Shang Lingjun could even hear the exclamations and discussions of the people outside.

It's likely that within a day, news of Meng Shu successfully exorcising evil spirits from Xie Zhaoqing and Xie Zhaoqing's subsequent suicide out of shame and indignation will spread throughout Shengjing.

From that day forward, Xie Zhaoqing was no more in the Xie family!

Absolutely amazing!

Taking advantage of the chaos, Shang Lingjun left. There was one more thing: Old Madam Wei wouldn't tell her where Xie Zhaoqing would go next.

In what capacity will he appear before the people of Shengjing?

It's always unsettling to be kept in the dark about something this big.

【Ati, why did you leave? Na Mengshu…】

Huo Chuan reminded Shang Lingjun.

"Do you think it's even necessary to ask him? He's just a smooth talker." Shang Lingjun shrugged.

"Wait a minute."

Meng Shu followed us without us even realizing it.

Shang Lingjun remained composed, her eyes lowered and a faint smile on her face.

"Your Excellency, what brings you here?"

Meng Shu, holding a whisk, remained expressionless. Just as Shang Lingjun was wondering what was happening, another of Meng Shu's disciples handed him a peace talisman.

This disciple wasn't as tall and thin as the one who could perform ventriloquism earlier; he was short and stout, and quite pleasing in appearance.

"Madam has been in contact with evil spirits and her body is tainted with evil energy. She must wear this amulet close to her body to dispel the remaining evil energy and ensure her safety."

In front of everyone, Shang Lingjun accepted the amulet and bowed, saying:

"Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for your thoughtful consideration."

She paused, then spoke with some skepticism:

"Your Excellency, I have been having trouble with my dreams lately, as if they are completely reversed. Yesterday, I saw a sapling that the gardener had just planted, and I seemed to see it being blown down by the wind ten years later. Moreover, the tree had split into two branches. I wonder if Your Excellency could interpret this dream?"

Meng Shu stroked his beard, his expression inscrutable.

"Your dreams are all because you have worries in your heart. What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. The matter is over, so you should relax. If you still can't sleep well, then drink a bowl of calming soup before bed."

Shang Yaojun: "..."

That's a very straightforward statement: if you can't sleep well, drink a bowl of calming soup.

Wow, how come she didn't think of that?

It seems this Taoist priest truly has no understanding of ghosts and spirits; he didn't understand her hints at all.

"Very well, thank you, Imperial Preceptor."

Shang Lingjun still had a faint smile on her face.

Meng Shu gave a faint "hmm," flicked his whisk, and turned to leave.

Shang Lingjun stroked the amulet in her hand. The amulet was exquisitely made, with talismans drawn on it using cinnabar mixed with gold powder, which shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Shang Lingjun carefully put it away, and asked Huo Chuan in her heart,

How much of the past rumors about Meng Shu do you think are true or false?

Huo Chuan clicked his tongue.

It's hard to say. His acting skills are so superb that this isn't his first time doing this, and he likely has powerful and capable people around him, including divination and exorcism. It's all a matter of belief; if you believe, it exists; if you don't, it doesn't.

Shang Lingjun pursed her lips slightly, then turned and quietly left.

It seems this Taoist priest won't work; we need to think of another way.

……

Late at night, at the Xie residence.

"Didn't you keep asking Xie Zhaoqing what would happen next? Now, you've seen it with your own eyes."

Old Madam Wei looked at the unconscious woman on the bed and said in a low voice.

Shang Lingjun walked in and, upon seeing Xie Zhaoqing's face clearly, was horrified.

"Mother-in-law, this...this is Xie Zhaoqing?"

The woman on the bed only resembled Xie Zhaoqing in build, but her face had changed.

Upon closer inspection, although there are similarities to the Xie Zhaoqing of the past, the current Xie Zhaoqing has a more delicate face and her face is smaller, making her clearly a woman.

At first glance, no one would associate her with the former Xie Zhaoqing.

It's obvious they just changed their face!

Granny Qiu said in a deep voice:

"The old lady has reshaped her bones and body. From now on, Xie Zhaoqing is dead, and there is only one more mistress of Xiao Jing in the world."

Shang Lingjun blinked rapidly, looking at Old Madam Wei in disbelief.

"Mother-in-law, do you know how to pinch cheeks?"

Granny Qiu's tone was tinged with pride.

"That's right. Our matriarch is a daughter of a military family who grew up in the southern border region. She has seen many strange people and events. In the past, our matriarch saved an old Taoist priest who was on his last breath. That old Taoist priest taught our matriarch this 'Bone-Shifting and Appearance-Changing Technique'."

Bone sculpting, as the name suggests, involves altering the shape of facial bones through bone manipulation to change one's appearance.

Old Madam Wei cleared her throat lightly, and Granny Qiu, realizing she had said too much, said nothing more.

Shang Lingjun was still in shock. She knew that Old Madam Wei came from a military family, but she had always thought that Old Madam Wei was just an ordinary woman who had been immersed in the inner quarters of the house for a long time.

It turns out that the old lady had such a skill.

Xie Zhaoqing's appearance has changed, so there's absolutely no trace of it left!

Even if Xie Zhaoqing wanted to turn against the Xie family, no one would believe her given her current appearance.

"If everyone could sculpt and shape bones, then..."

As if knowing what Shang Lingjun was thinking, Old Madam Wei finally spoke:

"A person's bones can only move once, and it's quite dangerous, so don't overthink it."

"Oh, I see."

Shang Lingjun's lips curved slightly.

"I never expected that Xie Zhaoqing would end up as Xiao Jing's mistress. It can be said that true love has finally come to fruition. We should congratulate them."

Saving Xie Zhaoqing's life was the Xiao family's condition. Since Xiao Jing wanted Xie Zhaoqing, they would grant it.

Xie Zhaoqing is now just a weak woman with no family background or connections, and can only rely on Xiao Jing, or even just be his mistress.

Unlike before, when one came from a family of military generals and the other from a family of civil officials, one took the imperial examination route and the other took the military route, and both of them were very successful.

Shang Lingjun wanted to see if they could see that their love was no longer a match made in heaven, as their social statuses were now so vastly different.

How will Xie Zhaoqing, the leading lady, become so powerful?